MCGA: Via Minnesota Corn, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Corn Growers Association Board of Directors welcomes its 2025-26 leadership team. Wes Beck of St. James will serve as president, Todd Wentzel of Murdock will serve as first vice president, Rob Tate of Cannon Falls will serve as treasurer, and Nick Peterson of Clear Lake will serve as secretary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48OKgd5
(SPONSORED: Minnesota Corn Growers Association)
All Fluence Media tip sheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
TRADE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A group of Indonesian farmers traveled 9,000 miles to find food for their chickens. That’s how good Minnesota soybeans are . . . Soybean farmers are in dire straits this year as China refuses to buy U.S. soy in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s tariffs, causing prices to tank and harvests to sit unsold. But farmers aren’t just waiting around for a federal bailout; they’re looking for alternative buyers.” QUOTE: “We’ve got to beat the bushes and utilize these trade teams and show them what a great product the U.S. has,” said Joel Schreurs, a farmer in Tyler and board member of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council. “It’s plentiful, and it’s relatively cheap at this point in time. Now’s the time to buy, if you’re a foreign entity.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nCxNOi
MORE: Via Mitchell Republic, VERBATIM: “While in Minnesota, prospective buyers toured the Minnesota Soybean Processors crush plant in Brewster and visited Joel Schreurs’ farm in Tyler before continuing to South Dakota. In South Dakota, tour participants engaged in a poultry nutrition research discussion at South Dakota State University and toured Jeff Thompson’s Colton, South Dakota, farm. Farmers from Minnesota and South Dakota produce 16% of the soybeans grown in the U.S., according to NSM, a majority of which are loaded onto rail and shipped from Pacific Northwest export facilities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46TFnwZ
AID: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump is planning a significant aid package to U.S. soybean farmers to help them survive China’s boycott of American beans in response to his trade war even as the president says he is still seeking a soybean deal with Beijing. But farmers are worried that time is quickly running out to reach a deal in time to sell any of this year’s crop to their biggest customer. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday said on CNBC that the public could expect news of ‘substantial support for our farmers, especially the soybean farmers’ as soon as Tuesday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IR8dpN
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3VZAwp9
BANKRUPTCIES: Via Fortune, VERBATIM: “The number of farm operations filing for bankruptcy remains at historically low levels but has jumped sharply this year as a crisis in the agricultural economy drags on. In the second quarter, there were 93 filings, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, up from 88 in the first quarter and nearly double the 47 at the end of 2024. That’s still well below the recent high of 169 in early 2020, and filings nosedived in the two years that followed. But since 2022, farm bankruptcies have been trending higher.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mN4tDz
GRANTS: Via KAT-Radio, VERBATIM: “There is one thing that every business owner or manager is trying to figure out each day, and that is how to be more profitable. Juggling the expenses of doing the job with how they can save money without affecting the quality of their product is a major challenge. And the farming industry is no exception to this. There is a constant, daily effort looking for the best, most economical way that farmers can not only survive doing what they’re doing but they can make money in the process. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is accepting applications now through Thursday December 17th at 4pm for the Agricultural Growth Research and Innovation Sustainable Agricultural Demonstration Grant (boy, that is a mouthful).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48iHo8m
SHUTDOWN: Via farm management analyst Kent Thiesse, VERBATIM: “A partial shutdown of the U.S. government began on October 1, with no indications regarding how long that shutdown may last. Most farmers in the Midwest are in the middle of harvest season, so there has probably not been a lot of attention paid to the government shutdown to this point. However, if the shutdown continues for several more weeks it could start to impact financial decisions for farmers and ag lenders. Approximately half of the nearly 86,000 USDA employees have been furloughed (placed on leave) and most local FSA offices are closed until the shutdown ends. Most of the remaining USDA employees are considered “essential,” related to ongoing food and nutrition programs and inspection services for food and agriculture. The second phase of the Economic Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) payments were made to eligible farmers prior to the shutdown; however, most other USDA farm-related program payments will be halted during the government shutdown.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o73tLJ
MORE: Via ECNS, VERBATIM: “The shutdown coincides with one of the most difficult autumn seasons in recent years for U.S. farmers. Trade disruptions have led international buyers to seek alternative suppliers, while a record corn harvest is expected to further depress prices. At the same time, costs of essential inputs like seeds and fertilizers continue to rise. In an interview with CBS, Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, highlighted the compounded pressure on farmers. The government shutdown comes at a time when tariffs are already severely impacting agricultural producers — it’s a two-punch situation, Wertish stated.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3J0JVJX
YIELDS: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “Variable yields are coming in as harvest progresses around the Midwest. Pioneer Corn U.S. Marketing Leader Brandon Walter tells Brownfield soybeans have been promising overall. ‘Especially given the lack of water that many geographies have seen, beans have performed quite well. So I think that’s a good starting point, however (it’s) definitely dry so getting after these beans fast is important because the moisture is shrinking out of these beans quick.’ He says corn yields are all over the board.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3VSOOI2
CORN: Via Successful Farming, VERBATIM: “In its latest Crop Progress report, the USDA rated 81% of the corn crop in Wisconsin good/excellent. Of the remaining top 18 corn-growing states, six have more than 70% of the corn crop rated good/excellent. For the 18 top corn-growing states, 66% of the corn crop was rated good/excellent.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3J0JYp7
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
MEDIATION: Via Marshall Radio, VERBATIM: “The number of Minnesota farmers entering mediation due to financial hardship has increased sharply this year, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Farm Advocate Steve Zenk says many producers are struggling to cover operating loans.” ZENK: “We’re seeing right now people that are going to have difficulty paying back their operating loans this fall. With the lower grain prices, and all the inputs have continued to go up, so at the end of the year, there might not be enough money to go around to get everybody paid.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4o75G9Z
WILLMAR: Via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “Over the past four years, the Wierschke family have been pursuing a new venture, halal meat processing. Now, with help from several organizations, community members and government groups, they were able to open a processing plant that specializes in halal lamb and goat meats. Happy Halal hosted a grand opening event Wednesday to give community members a chance to see the work that has gone into building the processing plant in the Willmar Industrial Park and offer a glimpse of the facilities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46Srpvd
CORN MARKET: Via Brownfield, VERBATIM: “A market analyst says farmers can capture the upside of a depressed corn market. Bryan Doherty with Total Farm Marketing tells Brownfield there is a carry to capitalize on. ‘Which awards a farmer to forward sell to a deferred month, think about those advantage points. If you don’t have storage space or you don’t want to store all this without it priced, go ahead and get these new crop sales made on the carry.’ He then recommends going back to buy fixed risk option strategies.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4orgCzx
FARM TOUR: Via Albert Lea Tribune, VERBATIM: “Area third-grade students from Alden-Conger, Hollandale Christian, St. Theodore’s, United South Central/Wells, Glenville-Emmons, NRHEG Schools, and Albert Lea enjoyed a day at the farm on Sept. 25. Students saw baby pigs, chickens, rabbits, dairy cows, sheep, beef cattle and goats. Local 4-H/FFA students were on hand to answer questions about their animals that they are showing the students. They got an inside look into a dairy operation at the Jon Larson Family Dairy Farm and saw the animals and agricultural equipment at Chevron Albert Lea in Glenville. During the day the children learned about where their food comes from and what steps must be taken to get their food from the farm to the table.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46QlK8Y
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
4-H: Via Red River Farm Network, VERBATIM: “Bryn Jacobson is a 4-H ambassador for Norman County 4-H and a member of the Super Sewers 4-H Club. ‘I like to find projects that challenge me.’ A crop production project focusing on corn fit that bill. In 2025, Jacobson earned a purple ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair with her corn sample. ‘I’ve done that, now I’ll try something else.’ 4-H has also enabled the Ada, Minnesota, student to take a leadership role.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q2w3Qc
MORE: From MDA via X, VERBATIM: “Last week, Commissioner Petersen had the chance to talk with a new class of 4-H Ambassadors. These leaders are learning skills that they will carry with them far beyond the farm. This National 4-H Week, we celebrate the young people shaping the future of Minnesota agriculture.” PHOTOS: https://fluence-media.co/3KGSpX4
Copyright © 2025 Fluence Media, All rights reserved.
As someone who subscribed, or as a member of the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council you are receiving this email.
Our mailing address is:
Fluence Media
PO Box 270031
Golden Valley, MN 55427